VIJAYAWADA: Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu, currently centred over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal, is likely to intensify further, and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapuram around Monday midnight or in the early hours of Tuesday, triggering heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and gale-force winds in several districts.
Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha on Sunday reviewed the cyclone preparedness with officials of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), and directed the State machinery to remain on high alert.
She stressed the need for advance measures to prevent inconvenience to people, and ensure their safety in view of successive cyclonic systems affecting the State.
APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain said the cyclone had moved at a speed of 27 kmph during the past six hours. It was located around 480 km from Chennai, 550 km from Nellore, 560 km from Machilipatnam, 600 km from Ongole, and 610 km from Visakhapatnam.
The system was expected to move northwestwards after intensifying over the west-central Bay of Bengal.
Wind speeds at the time of landfall are likely to reach 100-110 kmph, with gusts up to 120 kmph. Strong winds of 80-90 kmph are expected along the Andhra Pradesh coast from Monday afternoon. Under its influence, widespread light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by heavy to extremely heavy showers at isolated places, is likely across South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema over the next three days.
On Monday, heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is forecast in Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, Markapuram and Nellore districts, with extremely heavy rainfall likely at one or two places.
NDRF, SDRF teams deployed as heavy rain forecast
Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, NTR, Palnadu, Tirupati and Chittoor districts may also receive extremely heavy rainfall. Heavy showers are expected in parts of Alluri Sitarama Raju, Polavaram, Kakinada, Konaseema, Nandyal, YSR Kadapa and Annamayya districts.
On Tuesday, extremely heavy rainfall is likely in parts of Alluri Sitarama Raju, Polavaram and Eluru districts, while Vizianagaram, NTR, Palnadu, Prakasam, Markapuram, Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor and Annamayya may also experience extremely heavy showers. Several other districts are likely to receive heavy rainfall.
On Wednesday, heavy rain is forecast in parts of Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore districts.
Anitha directed officials to establish 24-hour emergency control rooms and instructed them to identify people in low-lying and flood-prone areas, and dilapidated houses, and shift them to safer locations immediately. NDRF and SDRF teams should be kept ready in vulnerable areas, she said.
The Home Minister also instructed police, fire services, revenue, municipal and electricity department officials to remain available on the ground. Special teams should be kept ready to remove fallen trees and electricity poles.
Jain said six NDRF and seven SDRF teams had been deployed in Krishna, Bapatla, Guntur, Nellore, Prakasam, Markapuram, Palnadu and Tirupati districts.
“The government is monitoring the situation, and has made arrangements for rescue and relief operations. People can report cyclone-related problems through the Mana Mitra WhatsApp service at 9552300009, toll-free numbers 112, 1070 and 18004250101,” he said.
